The southern port city of Basra has been, in effect, on its own since September, when British forces here moved to the outskirts, yielding authority to local leaders. British and American officials say Basra’s experiment in self-rule could serve as a model for Iraq’s future, but if so — many locals and outside advisers say — that future remains dark.
... a deeply troubled city: disappearances are common, political parties have militias of "hired mercenaries", political murders are executed by the "police", women are frequent subjects of targeted killings, and more.
What makes the situation in Basra so alarming is that it is a test of Iraqi rule under relatively optimal conditions.
